Mecklenburg County homelessness hits record high for families with children

"CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Mecklenburg County is facing its highest number of unsheltered households with children on record, according to new data that reveals a deepening housing crisis affecting families across the Charlotte area.

The annual Point in Time Count, conducted in January, found the county's unsheltered population increased 16% from the previous year, marking the highest number of people living without shelter since 2010. The sobering statistics show more families are calling cars, streets and parks home as affordable housing becomes increasingly scarce.

"It's overwhelming to think about the number, the amount of need that we have in our community," Karen Pelletier, director of Housing Innovation and Stabilization Services with Mecklenburg County, said. "We have every demographic of people who are in dire need that don't even have the bare minimum of shelter."

The data highlights a particularly troubling trend affecting vulnerable populations at both ends of the age spectrum.

"The fact that we are seeing more and more people who are over 65 who are living unsheltered, and people that are under 18, under 10 years old, children, school-aged children," Pelletier said.

Housing affordability remains the primary driver behind the rising numbers, but experts point to additional barriers that trap families in cycles of homelessness. In North Carolina, eviction records create lasting obstacles for families seeking housing..."

Read the full article here: Charlotte's homeless population reaches record high amid housing crisis | wcnc.com